1. Overview of your informant and their work. Give some brief description about the setting, objects and people in the environment, goals of the work, and so forth. (Do not include people's real names, but job titles are okay.) [150 - 250 words]
2 Summarize the data you obtained in your Contextual Inquiry. This includes, but is not limited to, discussing communication flow, sequence of actions, artifacts in use, culture, policies, and expectations, and the physical space in which the work took place. What was successful? Where did breakdowns occur? What workarounds were employed? Be descriptive and accurate, and to the point. [600 - 1200 words]
3 Each team must complete a diagram of the Flow Model (pp. 89-96). The group must also choose one other model to complete (Sequence, Artifact, Cultural, or Physical). Each model should be as detailed as those that appear in Chapter 6. Use an entire page for each sketch, which you can do with pencil, pen, or a computer. (Using PowerPoint works quite well, but you can create them with pen and paper if you like.) [2 pages]
4 Write a 1-2 paragraph description of each model (8-12 sentences). Highlight the main points of each model you drew. [250 - 350 words]
5 Speculate on the possibilities for a new technology that could help remedy one or more of the problems or challenges that you saw. Describe this technology (software, gadget, device, Web site, new process, etc.) and how it would make work easier or more satisfying for the informant you observed. [150 -250 words]
6 Finally, reflect on the experience of doing the Contextual Inquiry itself. What was easy? What was hard? What did you expect? What was surprising? How often did you ask a question? Did you ask too many? Did you ask too few? What types of questions worked best? Which lead to poor answers? Which lead to in-depth answers? What did you learn? [100 - 200 words]
The total report should be about 1600 words +/- 300 words, including the two full-page diagrams. Clear, concise writing will get better marks than lengthy, meandering prose.
EXPECTED TIME
The total time for this assignment should be about 3 hours for the Contextual Inquiry (including planning and setup), and about 3-5 hours to analyze the notes and craft the report. If you find yourself working more than 6-8 hours on this assignment, you're overdoing it. Clear concise writing is preferable.